Josh Mack blogging at the intersection of technology and the liberal arts, and occasionally on; bicycles, politics, Brooklyn, parenting, crafts, and good reading. Currently helping to build a new NYC neighborhood news site - nearsay.com, that celebrates the voices that make our city. Subscribe to the daily newsletter it gives you what you need to know.

July 22, 2008

Esqquire to use e-ink for a cover. gimmick or what...the future? one screen thick magazines that expire? ". “I fully expect that in 25 to 30 years, this cover will be in a museum.” (if they can find a battery - curatorial headache looming)

July 17, 2008

thanks HuffPo. I just think it is a bad cartoon without a framing device for context. Normal image of them as seen through a tv or paper then it would have made more sense and been better commentary. just weak.

July 16, 2008

July 15, 2008

Start your day watching this great new video series by Joss Whedon starring Neal Patrick Harris. A bunch of super-heroes and wannabe super-villians break into song. If you remember the musical Buffy Series or even the musical episode of scrubs you will probably like this

This morning I went for a ride in the park before it was open to traffic. Then a few cars passed and I started biking in the bike lane getting more and more annoyed at the joggers, walkers, and odd starers who continued to be in my way instead of moving to the inner lane. I began saying things like "the park is open get to the left" which is what they are supposed to be doing. I did this for a bit and then noticed that the cars weren't going all the way around and the people I'd been yelling at must have thought I was a crazy asshole. I was in fact right but also wrong and when I realized it could only sheepishly hang my end and ride slowly home.

July 14, 2008

So my blogging has been rather slow lately. Being a new father is part of it but another reason is that I've been hard at work on leading a great team of people in creating GeoToolkit. You can read the post about it on the outside.in blog. If you blog about places even occasionally you might find it interesting. Next up tools for sites powered by the GeoToolkit. I'm really excited about these so my blogging might be even slower still.

B drew this map of the new parking regulations. If you live Park Slope you can turn your computer sideways to see it. The map was drawn from the confusing street by street regulations listed on Community Board 6's web site. The little sliver near us looks like some strange Congressional redistricting but the upshot of this is that our brilliant once a week move from 6th Street to 5th Street is no more.

July 08, 2008

Last night I went to Hank's Saloon for Kuntry Karaoke night with a few friends. The highlight of the night, and in fact of a long week, was Mike's recitation of Red Sovine's TeddyBear. Apparently he memorized this song while working in a Post Office in NJ. when he was a teenager. Hearing this over and over might make someone go postal but the fact that he memorized this and gave such a spirited performance was inspiring. Here is a link to the fine song.

For my part it took me back to fine memories of my father talking on a CB Radio while driving up the Merritt Parkway to CT in our brown Lincoln Continental. I think we were all cringing in the back. Don't remember his handle though I imagine something like this..."Breaker, breaker one nine this is the Jew Canoe. Passing Darien now any Smokeys up around Norwalk?"